Too Late, Alpha. She's Already Someone Else's

Chapter 5

My instincts had never been wrong about danger. As the unfamiliar Alpha closed in on the border, the sheer force of his presence put every nerve on edge. Every hair on my body rose, and my spine locked as I prepared for trouble.

My wolf sensed danger before I consciously did, especially when an unfamiliar Alpha was nearby. Her instincts reacted before my mind could catch up.

I pressed my fingers to my brow and forced myself to calm down. Black Pine Territory was heavily guarded, protected by a specialized ward and the pack guard. An ordinary outsider Alpha could never simply break in. Most likely, a neighboring pack leader was passing nearby and posed no real danger.

Still, the unease wouldn't leave me. I kept sensing the direction of the stranger's approach, certain my instincts had noticed something my conscious mind hadn't yet understood.

I thought it was only a false alarm until an emergency mind-link came from the Pack Infirmary that afternoon.

"Luna, Miss Hawthorne fell at a private playground outside the territory. Her leg is badly fractured, and the injury is serious."

I quickly learned that Clarice had taken Elowen outside the territory without permission. She had brought her to a playground with no proper security and failed to supervise her closely enough to prevent the accident.

I drove to the Pack Infirmary at once, but unlike the old me, I didn't speed or panic. When I entered the treatment room, Elowen lay on the bed whimpering softly. Her lower leg was wrapped, and her face was pale.

The hallway smelled of antiseptic with a faint trace of blood, a combination familiar to any pack infirmary. Even seasoned warriors found it unsettling.

Clarice stood nearby with red-rimmed eyes, looking guilty. Jude was by the window, his face dark. The force of his Alpha presence filled the room, and the healers automatically lowered their voices.

Both of them stiffened when they saw me. Jude watched me warily, clearly expecting an explosion. He knew my old temper and assumed I would attack Clarice and turn the entire infirmary into a scene.

I went straight to Elowen's bedside and checked her injury. Only after confirming that the fracture had been properly set and wouldn't leave lasting damage did I relax.

Despite everything, I softened a little and leaned closer to her. No matter how spoiled she was, concern still came before resentment when my child was hurt.

Then I turned to Clarice, who still looked stricken with guilt.

"Children are active. Accidents happen," I said calmly. "This isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself."

Clarice froze. She had clearly never expected me to let the matter go so easily. Jude looked equally surprised, and some of the tension left his shoulders.

I stayed beside Elowen's bed without criticizing anyone. My restraint said more than an accusation would have.

If I fought with Clarice in front of everyone, I would only be branded jealous and cruel. I was no longer interested in winning a single argument. I wanted the kind of credibility and leverage no one could easily take from me.

A few days later, Jude kept his promise and turned over the two failing border hotels to me. I began working out of Business Headquarters and took over their day-to-day management.

I spent the night studying their operating records, occupancy, outdated facilities, and location advantages. By morning, I had a complete renovation plan and calculated that I would need at least 7 million dollars.

Jude approved only 3 million dollars. He was certain it wouldn't be enough and expected me to fail, return to the Pack House in humiliation, and fall back under his control.

I didn't argue. I accepted the money without complaint. A budget of 3 million dollars was tight, but it was enough to begin. If I controlled every expense and renovated in stages, I could still revive the properties.

In a small town, 3 million dollars was a substantial sum, but it was nowhere near enough to renovate an entire hotel properly. I stayed up that night creating a phased construction schedule, beginning with the lobby and guest rooms where improvements would have the fastest visible impact.

From then on, I poured myself into the work. I shuttled between Business Headquarters, the two hotels, and building-supply vendors. The days were busy but satisfying, far more so than being confined to the Pack House. Jude invited me to several evening business engagements, and I refused them all.

Late one night, I returned to the Pack House and had barely lain down when the bedroom door opened. Jude stepped in from the dark hallway, tall and imposing, his Alpha scent filling the room as he approached the bed. There was no mistaking what he wanted.

He reached for me. I instinctively shifted away and blocked his arm.

"I'm exhausted. I don't want this tonight."

The refusal ignited all the frustration he had been holding in.

"You're awfully hard to please these days. Was that obedient, sweet wife I knew all an act?"

"I was never pretending. I finally woke up." I looked at him coldly. "I won't live like a bird you keep in a cage, and I won't spend my life pleasing people just to survive."

His voice dropped, and for the first time I heard panic beneath it. "I don't want to lose you. But I know you're not the woman who will stay no matter what anymore."

He didn't force the issue. He stopped himself, took a breath, then asked quietly, "If you truly don't want this, I won't make you."

My breathing faltered. The mate bond still responded to his closeness, and that primitive pull fought against my judgment. Yet one thing had finally become clear. The bond itself wasn't what had hurt me. I had hurt myself by surrendering my choices again and again.

I closed my eyes and remembered every betrayal from my previous life, but I also remembered the warmth that had once been real. After a long silence, I spoke softly.

"This time, it's my choice."

Only then did Jude lean closer. His kiss was light and restrained, almost cautious, as though even a hint of force might make me pull away.

For once, he set aside his usual need to dominate. He waited for my response before every move. When the lights went out, the tension that had kept me rigid for so long finally eased. I relaxed because I chose to, not because I had surrendered.